Is gratitude one of the latest and greatest buzzwords or is it real? So much is said about gratitude, Opera Winfrey spoke about keeping a gratitude journal on her show for many years; according to Greater Good Magazine research has proven that gratitude improves our mental health; Conscious Lifestyle Magazine published an article titled "The Health Benefits of Gratitude - 6 Scientifically Proven Ways Being Grateful Rewires Your Brain + Body for Health". These results came up for me on a very cursive Google search. It seems to me that it is indeed time for us to enjoy the Freedom to Embrace Gratitude.

There are many things in life that I am grateful for, the gift of my gorgeous daughter, loving family, exciting travel, exquisite sunsets, the ocean, adorable furbabies delicious food ... oh there is just so much to appreciate and be grateful for!

The one I'd like to focus on today is the gratitude I have in my heart for how much I love to cycle. I was gifted with an incredible mountain bike one holiday in Perth, we named her Millie. This stunner couldn't have come at a better time, you see, I had injured my leg a mere 6 weeks prior to that holiday and no-one plans to be on crutches for a summer beach vacation! Not only am I grateful for the gift of Millie but that which came with her, the love of cycling, the joy of receiving an incredible gift and the resulting gentle physical healing for my leg. I returned to South Africa restored in so many ways! Let me introduce you to the one and only Magnificent Millie, personalized and kitted out so thoughtfully - even a breast cancer awareness saddle, in memory of my precious Mum! Freedom to Embrace Gratitude seize and savour every moment, even the ones that remind you of painful moments like the loss of a loved one, physical pain in healing, the end of a season.

According to www.howstuffworks.com "The good news is that people can also benefit from reliving positive experiences, such as remembering the overall sense of well-being that comes from being deeply happy. this is because good memories can cause the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure (source: Lang). Tanya Clausen, a clinical social worker in Washington DC suggests that happy memories can also positively affect our mental health....."

So there you have it folks! It is important that you frequently practice the Freedom to Embrace Gratitude!

Currently a student with an incredible online organisation, I am learning about the benefits of gratitude and a host of other incredible things whilst building an online business. If you are interested in how your mindset affects the quality of your life and those around you, I encourage you to join me on this journey. Click on the link below, you won't be sorry!